Toilet ventilation system

ABSTRACT

A toilet ventilation system uses a simple, plastic intake secured under the toilet seat bolts and carrying plastic hose connectors so flexible hose can connect the intake with a cover plate mounted over a support plate over a hole in the wall behind the toilet to lead to a flexible exhaust hose. A fan motor is arranged somewhere in the exhaust line, and a switch above the toilet in the wall behind the toilet is arranged for operating the fan motor. The particular arrangement of parts allows simple and convenient installation on a variety of toilets.

United States Patent John S. Lundberg 30 Laburum Crescent, Rochester, NY. 14620 Apr. 1, 1969 Mar. 23, 1971 [72] Inventor [21] Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [54] TOILET VENTILATION SYSTEM 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 4/213 [51] Int. Cl E03d 9/05 [50] Field of Search 4/ l, 209,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,862,085 6/1932 Hertzog 4/213 2,079,733 5/1937 Cummings... 4/213 2,105,794 1/1938 Norris 4/213 2,190,068 2/1940 Henschler 4/213 3,120,665 2/1964 Kirkland 4/213 3,230,551 1/1966 Kopp 4/213 3,357,029 12/1967 Schulz.... 4/217 3,469,267 9/1969 Kuklok 4/213 2,988,756 6/1961 Hartley 4/213 FOREIGN PATENTS 741,937 9/1966 Canada 4/209 Primary Examinerl.aveme D. Geiger Assistant Examiner Donald B. Massenberg Att0rneyCumpston, Shaw & Stephens ABSCT: A toilet ventilation system uses a simple, plastic intake secured under the toilet seat bolts and carrying plastic hose connectors so flexible hose can connect the intake with a cover plate mounted over a support plate over a hole in the wall behind the toilet to lead to a flexible exhaust hose. A fan motor is arranged somewhere in the exhaust line, and a switch above the toilet in the wall behind the toilet is arranged for operating the fan motor. The particular arrangement of parts allows simple and convenient installation on a variety of toilets.

PATENTED M23 ml 3; 571; 823

SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. JOHN s. LUNDBERG zj Aw- ATTORNEYS PATENTED mzs I9?! I saw 2 or FIG.5

INVENTOR. JOHN S, L. NDBERG BY I Z14 M MW ATTORNEYS Many toilet ventilation systems have been proposed, but these have suffered many disadvantages. They have been cumbersome, ugly, noisy, complex, expensive, unreliable, and difficult to install and maintain. Also, many such devices have required specially made toilets or parts and have used complex switching activated by movement of the toilet seat.

The objects of this inventioninclude, without limitation, overcoming the disadvantages of such prior-art systems and providing an optimum solution to the toilet ventilation problem. The invention aims at simple installation of plastic parts that areeasily assembled and maintained for an attractive rust-free, inconspicuous, quiet, and efficient toilet ventilation system.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTllON The inventive contribution is an optimum combination of parts that achieve the objects of the invention. A simple intake passageway is formed of a flat plate and a top plate arranged at the back of the toilet seat on a surface of the toilet. The flat plate rests on the toilet surface and has a pair of holes receiving the bolts for the toilet seat. The flat plate extends laterally beyond the toilet surface and has an exhaust hole in the lateral extension. The top plate is elevated above the flat plate in the region between the seat bolts and extends forward under the seat to the region of the toilet bowl to form an intake passageway above the flat plate. The top plate is also elevated above the flat plate in the region behind the seat bolts to form a passageway communicating with the intake passageway and the exhaust hole. A plastic hose connector is arranged in the exhaust hole and a flexible hose is fitted to the hose connector. The wall behind the toilet has a hole below the top of the toilet, and a support plate is fastened to the wall and has a hole registering with the wall hole. A cover plate is arranged over the support plate and has a hose connection communicating with the support plate opening. The flexible hose is fitted to the hose connection on the cover plate, and another flexible hose leads from the support plate opening through the wall to an exhaust region. A fan motor is arranged between the cover plate and the exhaust region for forcing gas from the intake passageway to the exhaust region. An electric box is mounted in the wall above the toilet and contains a switch, and conductors connect the switch to the motor and a source of power for operating the motor when the switch is closed.

The flat plate and the top plate of the intake passage preferably extend laterally beyond both sides of the toilet, and the flat plate preferably has a pair of exhaust openings with plastic elbow connectors rotatably mounted in each exhaust opening. The fan motor is preferably mounted on the support plate with the cover plate fitting the support plate to close the motor to intake other than through the intake passageway. The cover plate over the support plate and the fan motor preferably include a pair of elbow connectors rotatably mounted in holes in the cover plate to receive flexible hoses from the exhaust hole connectors.

DRAWINGS MG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of a toilet fitted with the inventive ventilation system;

MG. 2 is a sectioned fragment of the ventilation system of PEG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway fragmentary plan view of an alternative ventilation system;

PEG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the ventilation system of H6. 1; and

.llG. 5 is a cross section of H6. 3 taken along the line 5-5 thereof.

DETAlLED DESCRIPTION H68. 1, 2 and t show an embodiment of the inventive ventilation system using a fan motor secured to the wall behind the toilet under the toilet tank, and this embodiment will be described first. FIGS. 3 and S show an alternative ventilation system with a remotely located motor, and this will be described later. Both systems use the same intake and differ only in the exhaust.

lNTAKE The intake ill for the inventive ventilation system rests on a substantially horizontal top surface 12 of toilet lltl back of bowl 13 in the region of the back of seat Ml and cover l5 between bowl l3 and tank lti. Flat plastic base plate l7 rests directly on surface l2 and extends laterally beyond surface 12 at each side of the rear of toilet ltl. Base plate I? has a pair of exhaust holes llfl in each lateral side extension and a pair of holes for receiving bolm 20 of seat M. A top plate M is arranged over base plate l7 and has horizontal flanges 22 resting on base plate 17 in the region of bolts 20. Top plate 21 also has holes registering with holes in base plate 17 to receive bolts 20 of seat l4. Between bolts 20, top plate 21 is elevated above base plate ll7 to provide an intake passageway extending forward under seat 14 to the region of bowl l3. Behind seat l4, top plate 21 is also elevated above base plate 37 to provide passageways communicating with the intake passageway and with exhaust holes 118.

A pair of plastic elbow hose connectors 23 are rotatably mounted in exhaust holes 18 and extend downward from plate 17. Flexible hoses 24 and 25 are fitted to elbow connectors 23 to form a pair of passages from intake ll. Pivoting of elbow connectors 23 allows easy routing of hoses 24 and 25 to a con venient location for exhausting.

EXHAUST SYSTEM Wall 26 behind toilet 10 has a hole registered with flexible exhaust pipe 27 leading to an exhaustregion such as a roof vent or other exhaust area. A plastic support plate 28 is fastened to wall 26 and has a hole registering with the wall hole leading to exhaust pipe 27. A plastic cover plate 29 is arranged over support plate 2% to close the area on the room side of support plate 23. A fan motor 30 is mounted on support plate 255 and arranged for driving exhaust out through exhaust pipe 27 in wall 26. A pair of plastic elbow hose connectors Elli are rotatably mounted in holes in the top of cover plate 29, and flexible hoses 24 and 25 are fitted to elbows 31. Foam plastic material 32 is arranged between support plate 28 and wall 26 to absorb vibration from motor 34) and quiet the operation of motor 30.

An electric box 33 containing a switch 34 is mounted in wall 26 above toilet lit) and is connected by conductors 35 to motor 3% and a source of power (not shown) to operate motors 30 when switch 34 is closed. Since cover 29 encloses the space over support plate 28 the only inlet to motor 30 in the space between support plate 28 and cover plate 2% is through the inlet provided by flexible pipes 24 and 25 and elbows 31. Thus, when switch 34 is closed, gas is drawn through intake Ill and exhausted through exhaust pipe 27.

REMOTE POWER SYSTEM The remote power arrangement of FlGS. 3 and 3 uses the same intake ill and flexible hoses 2d and 23 leading toward the opening in wall 26. However, with remote operation, support plate 36 is merely a disc having a central aperture registering with the hole in wall 26 and communicating with exhaust pipe 37. Cover plate 3b covers support plate 36 and encloses a space on the room side of support plate 36. Cover plate 3% has a pair of hose connection fittings 3% over which flexible hoses 24 and 25 are fitted. Exhaust pipe 37 leads from support plate as through floor 40 to motor 4i located at any convenient remote location such as just below floor M) as illustrated in FIG. 5; Switch 42 on wall 26 is connected to motor 41 through electrical conductors 83 for controlling the operation of motor 41. Since the only inlet to exhaust pipe 37 is through hoses 24 and leading to cover plate 38, operation of motor 41 draws gas through intake 11 and out exhaust pipe 37 to an exhaust region.

INSTALLATION AND ALTERNATIVE The enclosed housing formed by cover plate 29 and support plate 28 can be mounted anywhere under tank 16 where it is preferably located to be inconspicuous. The swiveling elbows 23 and 31 can be arranged for easiest possible connection of flexible hoses 24 and 25 so that the mounting of the inventive ventilation system is simple and convenient. The installer makes a hole in wall 26, and secures support plate 28 to wall 26 in registry with the hole. Motor 30 is preferably carried on support plate 2b in a factory assembly, and after motor 30 is wired to switch 34, conveniently installed in the same wall 26, cover plate 29 is preferably snap fit to support plate 28 and hoses 24 and 25 connected by merely slipping over elbows 31. The intake 11 is installed merely by unbolting seat 14 and refastening seat 14 down with bolts 20 through the registered holes in intake 11. All the parts are preferably plastic to prevent rusting and to appear inconspicuous in assembly with toilet 10. No complex switch has to be adjusted or maintained near the toilet bowl.

intake It can have different shapes and sizes, can be changed somewhat to adapt to different toilets, and can use a single exhaust hole and flexible pipe if desired. The exhaust pipes 27 or 37 are preferably flexible for easy handling and can lead through wall 26 to any convenient and permissible vent exhaust region.

The remote control arrangement of FIGS. 3 and 5 uses a simple and small support plate 36 and cover plate 38 arrangement leading to exhaust pipe 37 so that these parts can be mounted at any convenient position on wall 26, preferably below tank 16. Remote location of motor 41 allows quieter operation, and motor 41 can be arranged at any convenient location such as a basement or attic. Motor 41 is preferably near the region of the exhaust for the ventilation system.

Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that other embodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances. Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing and claiming the invention, this should not inhibit broader or related applications within the spirit of the invention. For example, many sizes, shapes and specific location of parts can be used within the scope of the invention.

Iclaim:

l. A toilet ventilating system comprising:

a. a flat plastic base plate;

b. said plate resting on a substantially horizontal top surface of said toilet in the region of the back of the seat of said toilet;

c. said plate having a pair of holes receiving bolts for said seat;

d. said plate extending laterally beyond said surface of said toilet to a region outside the structure of said toilet;

e. said plate having an exhaust hole in said lateral extension;

f. a plastic hose connector arranged in said exhaust hole;

g. a top plate arranged over said flat plate;

b. said top plate resting on said flat plate in the region of said seat bolts;

i. said top plate having a pair of holes in registry with said seat bolt holes for receiving said seat bolts;

j. said top plate being elevated above said flat plate in the region between said seat bolts;

k. said top plate extending forward under said seat to the region of the bowl of said toilet to provide an intake passageway above said flat plate; I. said top plate being elevated above said flat plate in the region behind said seat bolts to provide a closed passageway over said flat plate communicating with said intake passageway and said exhaust hole;

m. a flexible hose fitted on said hose connector;

n. a wall behind said toilet having a hole below the top of said toilet;

o. a plastic support plate secured to said wall;

p. said support plate having an opening in registry with said hall hole;

q. a plastic cover plate arranged over said suppon plate;

r. said cover plate having a plastic hose connection;

s. said flexible hose fitted to said hose connection;

t; said hose connection communicating with said support plate opening;

u. a flexible hose leading from said support plate opening through said wall to an exhaust region;

v. a fan motor arranged between said cover plate and said exhaust region for forcing gas from said intake passageway to said exhaust region;

w. an electric box mounted in said wall above said toilet;

x. a switch arranged in said electric box; and

y. electrical conductors connecting said switch to said motor and a source of electric power for energizing said motor when said switch is closed.

2. The toilet ventilation system of claim I wherein said flat plate extends laterally beyond said surface of said toilet at each side of the back of said toilet, said flat plate includes a pair of exhaust holes in said flat plate separated more than the width of said surface of said toilet for exhaust on opposite sides of the back of said toilet, and a pair of plastic hose 0on nectors one of said plastic hose connectors being mounted in each of said exhaust holes, and a pair of flexible hoses one of said flexible hoses being fitted at its first end on each of said hose connectors and fitted at its second end to one of a pair of hose connections on said cover plate.

3. The toilet ventilation system of claim 2 wherein said plastic hose connectors comprise elbow connectors rotatably mounted in each of said exhaust holes.

4. The toilet ventilation system of claim I wherein said fan motor is mounted on said support plate, and said cover plate covers said fan motor.

5. The toilet ventilation system of claim 4 wherein said cover plate fits said support plate closely so the only air inlet to the space between said cover plate and support plate is from said intake passageway.

6. The toilet ventilation system of claim 5 wherein said flat plate extends laterally beyond said surface of said toilet at each side of the back of said toilet, said flat plate includes a pair of exhaust holes in said flat plate separated more than the width of said surface of said toilet for exhaust on opposite sides of the back of said toilet, and a pair of plastic hose connectors one of said plastic hose connectors being mounted in each of said exhaust holes, and a pair of flexible hoses one of said flexible hoses being fitted at its first end on each of said hose connectors and fitted at its second end to one of a pair of hose connections on said cover plate.

7. The toilet ventilation system of claim 6 wherein said hose connection on said cover plate comprises a pair of plastic elbow connectors rotatably mounted in a pair of holes in said cover plate.

8. The toilet ventilation system of claim 7 including resilient foam material arranged between said support plate and said wall.

9. The toilet ventilation system of claim I wherein said fan motor is remote from said support plate and near said exhaust region. 

1. A toilet ventilating system comprising: a. a flat plastic base plate; b. said plate resting on a substantially horizontal top surface of said toilet in the region of the back of the seat of said toilet; c. said plate having a pair of holes receiving bolts for said seat; d. said plate extending laterally beyond said surface of said toilet to a region outside the structure of said toilet; e. said plate having an exhaust hole in said lateral extension; f. a plastic hose connector arranged in said exhaust hole; g. a top plate arranged over said flat plate; h. said top plate resting on said flat plate in the region of said seat bolts; i. said top plate having a pair of holes in registry with said seat bolt holes for receiving said seat bolts; j. said top plate being elevated above said flat plate in the region between said seat bolts; k. said top plate extending forward under said seat to the region of the bowl of said toilet to provide an intake passageway above said flat plate; l. said top plate being elevated above said flat plate in the region behind said seat bolts to provide a closed passageway over said flat plate communicating with said intake passageway and said exhaust hole; m. a flexible hose fitted on said hose connector; n. a wall behind said toilet having a hole below the top of said toilet; o. a plastic support plate secured to said wall; p. said support plate having an opening in registry with said hall hole; q. a plastic cover plate arranged over said support plate; r. said cover plate having a plastic hose connection; s. said flexible hose fitted to said hose connection; t. said hose connection communicating with said support plate opening; u. a flexible hose leading from said support plate opening through said wall to an exhaust region; v. a fan motor arranged between said cover plate and said exhaust region for forcing gas from said intake passageway to said exhaust region; w. an electric box mounted in said wall above said toilet; x. a switch arranged in said electric box; and y. electrical conductors connecting said switch to said motor and a source of electric power for energizing said motor when said switch is closed.
 2. The toilet ventilation system of claim 1 wherein said flat plate extends laterally beyond said surface of said toilet at each side of the back of said toilet, said flat plate includes a pair of exhaust holes in said flat plate separated more than the width of said surface of said toilet for exhaust on opposite sides of the back of said toilet, and a pair of plastic hose connectors one of said plastic hose connectors being mounted in each of said exhaust holes, and a pair of flexible hoses one of said flexible hoses being fitted at its first end on each of said hose connectors and fitted at its second end to one of a pair of hose connections on said cover plate.
 3. The toilet ventilation system of claim 2 wherein said plastic hose connectors comprise elbow connectors rotatably mounted in each of said exhaust holes.
 4. The toilet ventilation system of claim 1 wherein said fan motor is mounted on said support plate, and said cover plate covers said fan motor.
 5. The toilet ventilation system of claim 4 wherein said cover plate fits said support plate closely so the only air inlet to the space between said cover plate and support plate is from said intake passageway.
 6. The toilet ventilation system of claim 5 wherein said flat plate extends laterally beyond said surface of said toilet at each side of the back of said toilet, said flat plate includes a pair of exhaust holes in said flat plate separated more than the width of said surface of said toilet for exhaust on opposite sides of the back of said toilet, and a pair of plastic hose connectors one of said plastic hose connectors being mounted in each of said exhaust holes, and a pair of flexible hoses one of said flexible hoses being fitted at its first end on each of said hose connectors and fitted at its second end to one of a pair of hose connections on said cover plate.
 7. The toilet ventilation system of claim 6 wherein said hose connection on said cover plate comprises a pair of plastic elbow connectors rotatably mounted in a pair of holes in said cover plate.
 8. The toilet ventilation system of claim 7 including resilient foam material arranged between said support plate and said wall.
 9. The toilet ventilation system of claim 1 wherein said fan motor is remote from said support plate and near said exhaust region. 